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Abstract:

A system and method for searching information based on crowd-sourced
templates comprising a user input subsystem for entering one or more
search terms, a database for storing a plurality of crowd-sourced
templates, wherein each template is a representation of a data collection
process from a plurality of sources. Subsequent search entries with tags
results in display of stored templates in descending order of rank.
Templates may be ranked using crowd voting or their social relevancy.
Templates may be viewed, edited, and stored on the database by other
users through social network sites.

Claims:

1. A system for facilitating Internet searches, comprising: a user input
subsystem for entering one or more search terms; a database for
maintaining templates using an undefined large group of people through a
public data network wherein each template is a representation of a data
collection process from a plurality of sources; and a subsystem for
retrieving one of said templates.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the addition of tags
generated manually or automatically affiliated with said retrieved
template.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a display of an information
mashup of the presentation of said retrieved template and the
presentation of said tags, wherein said mashup is stored in said
database.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a subsystem permitting
additional system users to view, edit, and store to said database the
template resulting from said information mashup.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sources comprise a plurality of
network addresses.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein changing the information in at least
one item stored within said database will change information in at least
one other database item.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one template has a topic shown
to a user.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ranking system of said
templates e.

9. A method for processing queries in a search and retrieval system, said
method comprising the steps of: Maintaining a database of templates using
an undefined large group of people through a public data network;
accepting one or more search terms, through an interface; retrieving and
displaying from system data repository a list of templates associated
with said search terms; selecting one template from said list; permitting
other users to modify said selected template; and storing the modified
template.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said list of templates are ranked
based on social relevancy of the user.

[0003] The present invention relates to systems and processes for
searching information based on crowd sourced templates

[0004] 2. Discussion of Related Art

[0005] The Information Age has heralded in a phenomenon of information
overload for users conducting searches on the World Wide Web. There are a
number of search engines that have been developed to facility the user's
search, such as Bing "The Decision Engine", Google, and Yahoo.

[0006] There have also been a number of other inventions developed to
facilitate information searches. For example, US Patent Application
20060116994 entitled "System and Method for Interactive Multi-Dimensional
Visual Representation of Information Content and Properties" discloses an
information retrieval system allowing information sources to be combined
with selected user workflows and analytical content, dimensional
relationships, and integrated analysis to display an interactive visual
representation.

[0007] There are also many platforms that offer information search
algorithms in use and known in the art. These platforms usually rely on
either automatic ranking of relevant links or manual preparation of link
lists. The prior art does not disclose, though, the use of crowdsourced
templates to enable the public to use the search process done by other
users

[0008] The present invention provides the enhanced ability over the prior
art for the user to efficiently tailor their information searches to
their pre-selected preferences, thus saving time and energy. Their
searches may then be shared and updated by a community of users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for searching
information based on crowdsourced templates. Accordingly, the present
invention comprises: (i) user input subsystem for entering one or more
search terms; (ii) a database for storing a plurality of crowdsourced
templates, wherein each template is a representation of a data collection
process from a plurality of sources.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further
comprises the addition of tags generated manually or automatically
affiliated with said retrieved template.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the invention, the sources
comprise a plurality of network addresses.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the invention, hanging the
information in at least one item stored within said database will change
information in at least one other database item.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the invention, at least one
template has a topic shown to a user.

[0014] In particular, the present invention provides a system and a method
for a user to customize their information searches on the World Wide Web.
The invention comprises a series of subsystems: 1) a subsystem for user
input; 2) a subsystem for storing within a computer database files of
preferred templates; and 3) a subsystem for retrieving a selected
template from the database.

[0015] In a further aspect of the present invention, the subsystem of
database storage of selected templates comprises a feature allowing the
user to customize templates wherein the user: selects a template from the
database; adds or changes the data source of the template; links fields
in the template; manually or automatically adds tags to characterize the
template; displays the mashup of the modified template to the user; and
stores the modified template in the database.

[0016] In a further aspect of the present invention, the subsystem for
conducting an information search comprises: the user inputting desired
tags related to their search topic; the system retrieving a list of
relevant templates from the database and displaying them in a specified
order, such as descending order of relevancy, user preferred ranking,
date, or a combination thereof; users selecting a template from the
displayed list; user inputting desired search details into the template;
the system conducts a mashup using link logic to change the information
displayed in each of the information sources; and the system displays the
results to the user.

[0017] In a further aspect of the present invention, the system and method
may be utilized in a community computing environment wherein multiple
users are permitted to view, share, rank, comment on, and modify template
databases and search results.

[0018] These, additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the
present invention are set forth in the detailed description which
follows; possibly inferable from the detailed description; and/or
learnable by practice of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0019] The present invention will now be described in the following
detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention and with
reference to the attached drawings, in which dimensions of components and
features shown are chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and
are not necessarily shown to scale. Generally, only structures, elements
or parts that are germane to the discussion are shown in the figures.

[0020] FIG. 1 is scheme of system modules in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of acts performed in adding or changing a
template in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of acts performed in searching a template in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a scheme of a mashup in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of acts performed in adding or changing a
social relevancy based template in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Provided herein is a detailed description of this invention. It is
to be understood, however, that this invention may be embodied in various
forms, and that the suggested (or proposed) embodiments are only possible
implementations (or examples for a feasible embodiments, or
materializations) of this invention. Therefore, specific details
disclosed herein are not to be 5 interpreted as limiting, but rather as a
basis and/or principle for the claims, and/or as a representative basis
for teaching one skilled in the art to employ this invention in virtually
any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0026] Prior to setting forth the detailed description, it may be helpful
to set forth definitions of certain terms that will be used hereinafter

[0027] As used herein, the term "template" refers to a reusable definition
of input and output fields and the logical relations between them. For
example an input fields of car make and year and output field of car
models and their photos where choosing a make and/or model changes the
available modes and their images.

[0028] As used herein, the term "logical link" refers to logical
relationship between fields. For example choosing a car year in the year
field will initiate a SQL query in a car database and present in the
model filed only models of that year.

[0029] As used herein, the term "DB" refers to a database.

[0030] As used herein, the term "URL" refers to an address of a file or
content on a computer network such as the internet. For example, the URL
for NetAlert is www.netalert.gov.au

[0031] As used herein, the term "mashup" refers to a web page or
application that uses or combines data or functionality from two or many
more external sources to create a new service. Mashups are templates.

[0032] As used herein, the term "crowdsourcing" refers to a task
contributed by a large undefined large group of people through a public
data network

[0033] As used herein, the term "mobile device" refers to a computing
device that is using a cellular network.

[0034] As used herein, the term "social network" is a web-based service
that provides ways for users to interact, such as file sharing, blogging,
and discussion groups, to build communities of people who have common
interest. An example of a social network are Facebook.com and
Linkedin.com.

[0035] FIG. 1 is scheme of system modules in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the invention. System 100 is comprised of the following
subsystems: 102--user input subsystem that allows a user to input the
information he desires to receive, some of the processes performed by
this subsystem are described in steps 304, 308, and 310 of FIG. 3;
104--template database subsystem, this subsystem enables for storing,
recording, and updating of search templates as further described in steps
202-210, and 214 of FIG. 2 (Alternatively templates can be recorded by
recording the actions performed by a user in searching for information in
a similar way to Excel's macro recorder.); and 106--template retrieval
subsystem which allows for retrieving 306 relevant templates form said
DB. In a non limiting example, the Template DB is crowdsourced.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of acts performed in adding or changing a
template in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The
user selects 202 a current template or selects to add a new template and
then: adds or changes 204 its data sources. These sources are comprised
of:

[0037] Search engines such as www.google.com

[0038] Online marketplace such as www.ebay.com

[0039] Video sites such www.youtube.com, www.hulu.com

[0040] News feeds such as www.twitter.com

[0041] Manufacturers' sites such as www.Toyota.com

[0042] Governmental or municipal sites such as www.uspto.gov

[0043] Later on the fields are linked 206 in said template, for example
choosing a car model in one field will filter in only this model in the
information they will present. Template tags can be added manually 208 to
describe said template such as "car search"; and/or alternatively tags
can be added automatically 210. For example a template with Toyota source
can be automatically tagged as "cars". As shown in FIG. 2, 212--a mashup
combines the selected templates with the tags, and as further described
in FIG. 4. The altered template 214--is stored in the template database.
The order of steps 202-214 is optional and others orders of the steps can
results the same or similar results.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of acts performed in searching a template in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. User inputs 302
the search results he is interested in for example "Toyota car", the
system retrieves 306 relevant templates from said template database,
preferably in descending rank order such as descending order of
relevancy, user ranking or date or a combination of them. The top
relevant templates are shown and the user selects 308 the templates he
likes. After selecting the desired template, user can input 310 the
desired search results in said template for example select hybrids in a
Toyota template. The system can then use the links created in step FIG.
2, 206 to change the information displayed in each of the sources (such
as sources 402-412 of FIG. 4). The template results are then displayed in
manner such as the one described in FIG. 4

[0045] FIG. 4 is a scheme of a mashup in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the invention. Mashup 400 is comprised of one or more
search sources 402-412, each of the sources can be of one of the types
described in step 204, FIG. 2. Sources can have a logical link that
describes relationships or actions. For example links 420 is set to
change the car model displayed in sources 412 in response to a change in
the card model of link 402. Each of the links retrieves information from
a different (or identical) URL and displays it in place defined for it in
the mashup. Optionally, the mashup is created by using a template.

[0046] In a non-limiting example, the mashup presents a process for
choosing a low polluting car model, a process for choosing a house to
purchase, or a process for choosing a bank with the lowest interest rate.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of acts performed in adding or changing a
social relevancy based template in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the invention. User plans a ski vacation. The search for
ski vacation will be based on combination of personal needs and
constrains. User inputs 504 the desired results inputting combination of
needs (such as tags) such as "ski" "mountain height", "family activity"
and "distance from airport", "desired weather", etc. The system will
provide various templates 506, which will match the desired tags 504, and
in addition will show detailed social information on the users who built
the templates. This social information (Facebook alike
information--picture, name, age, friends, habits, social group, previous
ski vacations, etc.), may help the said user to find similarity and match
with other users and their shared experience, reducing search time, based
on social match 508 and others personal experience. The chosen template
may change, for example by adding additional parameter and can be ranked
by other users 510, or said user may even ask other users to join and
share more information to this template. The final outcome 512 is saved
and can be shared for future use by the user and others 514.

[0048] Optionally, the actions described on steps 504 to 514, FIG. 5 are
done on a social network platform. In a non-limiting example templates
created by one's friends are ranked higher in ones searches shown in step
306, FIG. 3.

[0049] Although various features of the invention may be described in the
context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided
separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the
invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments
for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single
embodiment.

[0050] Reference in the specification to "some embodiments", "an
embodiment", "one embodiment", or "other embodiments", means that a
particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection
with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not
necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

[0051] It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein are not to be construed as limiting, and are for
descriptive purposes only.

[0052] The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention
may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description,
figures, and examples.

[0053] It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not
construe a limitation to an application of the invention.

[0054] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be
carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be
implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the
description above.

[0055] It is to be understood that the terms "including", "comprising",
"consisting", and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the
addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers; or
groups thereof, and that the terms are to be construed as specifying
components, features, steps or integers.

[0056] If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element,
that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional
element.

[0057] It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer
to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not be construed that there is
only one of that element.

[0058] It is to be understood that where the specification states that a
component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may", "might", "can" or
"could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or
characteristic is not required to be included.

[0059] Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both
may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to
those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow
need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the
same order as illustrated and described.

[0060] Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing
or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected
steps or tasks.

[0061] The term "method" may refer to manners, means, techniques and
procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to,
those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or
readily developed from known manners, means, techniques, and procedures
by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

[0062] The descriptions, examples, methods, and materials presented in the
claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but
rather as illustrative only.

[0063] Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be
commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the
invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

[0064] The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice
with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described
herein.

[0065] Any publications, including patents, patent applications and
articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein
incorporated in their entirety into the specification, to the same extent
as if each individual publication was specifically and individually
indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or
identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of
the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference
is available as prior art to the present invention.

[0066] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited
number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on
the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the
preferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, and
applications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been
described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents